AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester City, Premier League Matchday 29: Team News, Preview and Prediction

Competition/Round: 2018/19 English Premier League Season – Matchday 29

Date/Time: AFC Bournemouth vs Manchester City – Saturday, 2 March 2019, 15:00 GMT (UK); 10:00 EST, 07:00 PST (USA)

Venue: Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, England, United Kingdom

Match Officials:

Referee: Kevin Friend

Assistant Referees: Matthew Wilkes, Adrian Holmes

Fourth Official: David Coote

TV Info: CNBC (USA)

Live Stream: NBC Sports Live, Fubo.tv (USA) Fubo.tv shows every Manchester City game with a high-quality and legal stream. New to Fubo.tv? Click here to sign up for a discounted rate.

Radio: BBC Radio Manchester (UK); TalkSport Radio World (USA)

Preview:

Following a series of entertaining matches in midweek, the English Premier League is back underway. AFC Bournemouth will host Manchester City on Saturday.

The Cherries looked deflated in their 5-1 routing at Arsenal on Wednesday. Bournemouth have now lost three of their last five games, with their last victory coming in January. They do not appear to be the same side that shocked Chelsea, and they could be in store for a long night as they host the current champions of England.

Yet fatigue has also affected the Blues. Having played 120 minutes of football on Sunday in the EFL Cup Final, which was decided by a penalty shoot out, City looked flat footed on Wednesday. A converted penalty was enough to see out a stubborn West Ham United side, albeit City cannot afford to continue riding out their luck. They will have to improve their style of play should they challenge for the EPL title this season.

Team News:

Bournemouth are without the injured Callum Wilson, Junior Stanislas and Steve Cook are injured and will not feature in this match. Lewis Cook and Simon Francis are out for the season. Jefferson Lerma is suspended for this game.

Manchester City’s Aymeric Laporte, Fernandinho, Gabriel Jesus and John Stones are injured and will not feature in this match. Calduio Bravo and Benjamin Mendy returned to training, and it is predicted the latter will start in this match.

Possible Lineups:

AFC Bournemouth

Formation: 4-4-2

Boruc; Clyne, Mepham, Aké, Rico; Ibe, Gosling, Surman, Fraser; Mousset, King

Manager: Eddie Howe

Manchester City

Formation: 4-3-3

Ederson; Danilo, Kompany, Otamendi, Mendy; Gündoğan, Delph, Foden; Sterling, Agüero, Sané

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Prediction:

Bournemouth are nine points clear of the relegation zone, but a series of poor performances could see them enter the relegation battle with less than ten games remaining in the 2018/19 EPL season. Therefore, manager Eddie Howe and his men will look to avoid this possibility at all costs. They have earned some impressive results this season, and as they look to stay afloat in the EPL, the Cherries may prove to be a difficult side for the champions.

Manchester City are also on course to retain the EPL title, albeit league leaders Liverpool are ahead by a point. Should City wish to contend for the title, they will have to overcome their fatigue and other difficulties that have plagued the team. This is easier said than done.

Nonetheless, City have the strength and depth in their squad to keep pace with Liverpool. It will be a difficult fixture for them, but by full time it is predicted the Blues will edge out in this cagey affair.

Bournemouth 1-2 Manchester City